Esteban wants new attorney, plea entry postponed

A hearing in the case of a Union City woman accused of murdering nursing student Michelle Le was delayed today because she wants to have a new lawyer appointed.

Giselle Esteban, 27, is accused of murdering Le, a 26-year-old San Mateo woman who disappeared from Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Hayward in May.

Le's body was found in unincorporated area of Alameda County between Pleasanton and Sunol on Sept. 17.

Several previous court hearings for Esteban were postponed because of medical issues related to her pregnancy.

Esteban, who is being held in custody without bail, was scheduled to enter a plea today and have a hearing on her bid to be granted bail.

But her court-appointed lawyer, Andrea Auer, told Alameda County Superior Court Judge Gary Picetti that Esteban now wants to fire her and have another attorney appointed to represent her at the public's expense.

Picetti scheduled a hearing on Esteban's request for Tuesday morning because no courtrooms are available today.

Only Esteban, Auer and a judge will be present at the hearing. Prosecutors, the media and the public will be excluded.